Imatinib

What is imatinib used for?

• Imatinib is used to treat cancer.
• It is used to treat blood problems.

Before taking imatinib, tell your doctor:

• If you are allergic to imatinib; any part of this medicine; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you are taking warfarin.
• If you are taking any of these drugs: Carbamazepine, dexamethasone, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifabutin, rifampin, or St. John's wort.
• If you are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while you take imatinib or for 1 month after you stop imatinib.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with imatinib.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take imatinib with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take imatinib?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take imatinib. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert or have clear eyesight until you see how imatinib affects you.
• You may have more chance of getting an infection. Wash hands often. Stay away from people with infections, colds, or flu.
• You may bleed more easily. Be careful and avoid injury. Use a soft toothbrush and an electric razor.
• If you have upset stomach, throwing up, diarrhea, or are not hungry, talk with your doctor. There may be ways to lower these side effects.
• Talk with your doctor before getting any vaccines. Use of some vaccines with imatinib may either raise the chance of an infection or make the vaccine not work as well.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may cause you to swell or keep fluid in your body. Tell your doctor if you have swelling, weight gain, or trouble breathing.
• Very bad and sometimes deadly holes in the GI (gastrointestinal) tract have happened with imatinib. Talk with the doctor.
• Very bad and sometimes deadly liver problems have happened with imatinib. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
• Patients with cancer who take imatinib may be at a greater risk of getting a severe health problem called tumor lysis syndrome (TLS).This may lead to death. Call your doctor right away if you have a fast or abnormal heartbeat; any passing out; trouble passing urine; muscle weakness or cramps; upset stomach, throwing up, diarrhea, or not able to eat; or feel sluggish.
• Heart failure has happened with imatinib, as well as heart failure that has gotten worse in people who already have it. Tell your doctor if you have heart disease. Call your doctor right away if you have shortness of breath, a big weight gain, a heartbeat that is not normal, or swelling in the arms or legs that is new or worse.
• If you are 65 or older, use imatinib with care. You could have more side effects.
• This medicine may affect growth in children and teens in some cases. They may need regular growth checks. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant.
• If you are able to get pregnant, a pregnancy test will be done to show that you are NOT pregnant before starting imatinib. Talk with your doctor.
• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking imatinib and for at least 2 weeks after stopping the drug.
• If you get pregnant while taking imatinib or within 2 weeks after your last dose, call your doctor right away.

How is imatinib best taken?

Use imatinib as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Take with a meal.
• Take with a full glass of water.
• You may put tablets in a glass of water or apple juice. How much liquid to use depends on your dose. Talk with your doctor. Put imatinib in the water or apple juice and stir. Drink right away after imatinib has dissolved. Rinse cup with more water or juice and drink.
• Take imatinib at the same time of day.
• Keep taking imatinib as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.
• Drink lots of noncaffeine liquids unless told to drink less liquid by your doctor.
• Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
• If the tablet is crushed or broken, do not touch the contents. If you do touch the contents or get it in your eyes, wash hands or eyes right away.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

What are the side effects of imatinib that I need to call my doctor about immediately?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of infection like fever, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal.
• Signs of bleeding like throwing up or coughing up blood; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; blood in the urine; black, red, or tarry stools; bleeding from the gums; abnormal vaginal bleeding; bruises without a cause or that get bigger; or bleeding you cannot stop.
• Signs of electrolyte problems like mood changes, confusion, muscle pain or weakness, a heartbeat that does not feel normal, seizures, not hungry, or very bad upset stomach or throwing up.
• Signs of kidney problems like unable to pass urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine, or a big weight gain.
• Chest pain or pressure.
• A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
• Very bad headache.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• Change in eyesight.
• Low mood (depression).
• Bone pain.
• A very bad skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) may happen. It can cause very bad health problems that may not go away, and sometimes death. Get medical help right away if you have signs like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in your mouth, throat, nose, or eyes.

What are some other side effects of imatinib?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Hair loss.
• Upset stomach or throwing up.
• Muscle spasm.
• Feeling sleepy.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Dizziness.
• Not able to sleep.
• Belly pain.
• Not hungry.
• Gas.
• Headache.
• Dry skin.
• Diarrhea.
• Constipation.
• Change in taste.
• Nose and throat irritation.
• Joint pain.
• Weight gain.
• Night sweats.
• Back pain.
• Anxiety.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If overdose is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out imatinib?

• Store at room temperature.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

Consumer information use and disclaimer

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about imatinib, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take imatinib or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to imatinib. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.